Key-case.



w. R. BUXTON.

KEY CASE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13. I916.

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UNITE WARNER R. BUXTOIN', OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

KEY-CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

Application filed March 13, 1916. Serial No. 83,958.

- To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WARNER R. BUXTON, a citizen of the United States of America, residin in Springfield, in the county of Hamp en and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to key cases and, more particularly, to ke cases of improved construction, whereby eys may be held within the case in an advantageous manner.

Key cases have been used, heretofore, and are shown in various forms in the prior art. Commonly, a case constructed along the lines of a pocketbook is used, and the keys are supported within the case upon an ordinary' key ring which is held to the .case by a suitable stud. In such key cases, the ring is arranged to receive the key with the axis of the eye of the latter disposed parallel, or substantially so, with respect to the case, whereby the key itself is constrained to lie perpendicularly or at least at a wide angle to the case. Moreover, the ring employed permits the keys to bunch in a central mass and, since the keys do not lie fiat within the case, the latter is bulged out centrally in an undesirable, wad. Other cases for keys have been provided, which employ independent means toreceive each key. For example, chains, secured at one end within the case, are provided with means at the other end to receive a key.' With such devices, the bunching of the keys within the case is not prevented although the-keys may in some instances be constrained to lie flatly against the casing. Moreover, the keys are free to shuck back and forth and are not securely retained within the casing so that they may and frequently do shake out of the case. Furthermore, the keys are not quickly and readily accessible and the selection of any desired key is not particularly convenient.

An object of this invention is to provide. a key case, arranged to receive a plurality of keys, which is so constructed that each key is held flatly against the casing, 1s separated from each other key to prevent bunching, and is positively retained in position against longitudinal displacement whereby the keys cannot shuck around within or be shaken out from the casing.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a key case of the class described, a plurality of independent devices, each constructed to receive a key with the axis of the eye of the latter normal to the case, whereby the keys have a tendencyto lie flatly against the case, and a common pivotal connection for said devices, whereby when the case is opened, the devices may be swung through a limited angle to throw the keys out of the case, said devices being positively held against swinging when the case is closed.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the detailed description to follow and in the annexed claims. For the purpose of illustrating one way in which the invention may be practised, one preferred embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevational view of the key case with the flaps opened;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the fiaps closed;

Fig. 3 is a-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 are fragmentary sectionalviews taken on the lines 44 and 55, respectively, of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig-6 is a View taken similarly to Fig. 5 showing a modification.

Referring to these drawings, the case itself comprises a single piece of suitable material, such as leather, or the like, which is foldable along the lines 1-1 of Fig. 1,

whereby a back 2 and two movable flaps 3 are provided. The latter are foldable in overlapping relation over the back 2 in an obvious manner, and any suitable means may be provided to hold the flaps 3 together,

such as a male fastener 4 on one flap and a female fastener 5 on the otherflap, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Y

Secured to the back 2 by eyelets 6 is a frame 7 of fiat metal which is formed with two spaced ears 8 struck up therefrom, as shown in Figs. 1, 3,-and 4; Extending between ears 8 and fixed thereto by any suitable means, such as riveting, for example, is a pivot rod 9 which is arranged adjacent the topof back 2 and in parallel relation therewith. Looselymounted on rod 9 are a plurality of snap hooks 10 which normally depend from rod 9, as shown, and are as shown in Fig. 6 at 15, to lie between the hooks and hold them from longitudinal movement on rod 9.

It is to be particularly noted that each hook 10 is arranged to support a key from the eye thereof with the axis of the latter in normal relation to the back 2, whereby the keys have a tendency, inherent from this arrangement, to lie flatly against back 2.

Moreover, the hooks 10 are so spaced that keys on successive hooks must overlap, as

shown in Figs. 1 and-2, but this overlapping of the keys does not prevent thelatter from being disposed in parallel relation to back 2.

' The overlapping of the keys as described is of advantage because the combined thickness of the overlapping keys is ordinarily approximately equal to the breadth of the lower portion of hooks 10. Thus, whenthe flaps 3 are lapped over one another and fastened, the flaps bear against the outermost portions of hooks 10 and the outermost keys 11, so that the folded case .is substantially of uniform thickness and of generally flat form. By this construction, the keys are frictionally held in place and cannot freely shuck around within the case.

The use of the pivoted hooks 10 effectually prevents the keys from being shaken out of the case for the hooks are held against movement on pivot 9 by the pressure of flaps 3. When, however, the latter are opened the books 10 may swing through substantially one hundred and eighty degrees to the position indicated by dotted lines in -Fig. 5, wherein the keys 11 will bethrown out of the case. The keys may be conveniently thrown out of the latter, if the open case with the keys facing upwardly is held in one hand and given a quick downward swing. It is also to be noted that any desired key can be quickly and conveniently removed independently of the others and that the selection of any desired key for use is made easy and convenient by the fact that the keys are spread out within the casingand maintained in this position by the spaced parallel hooks.

Thus, an improved key case'has been provided which is characterized by a positive retention of the keys within the case in overlapping relation with respect to one another and in parallel relation to the casing, whereby movement of the keys within the latter is prevented and the folded case is of flat and substantially uniform A sleeve 12 loosely thickness. said hooks and keys,

It is recognized. that changes may be made in the structure herein described for illustrative purposes without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined by said devices arranged to removably support a key and constrained to swing in a single plane, foldable flaps'provided on said strip, and means to removably secure said flaps together in overlapping relation over said devices to hold the latter from swinging in said plane.

2. A key case, comprising, a supporting strip, a plurality of devices directly pivoted to the strip, each of said devices being constrained to move in av definite path and adapted to support a key with the axis of the eye of the latter disposed in normal relation t9 said strip, whereby the keys may lie flat against the latter, flaps formed on said strip arranged to be folded in overlapping relation over said keys and devices, and means to removably secure the flaps together.

3. A key case, comprising, a supporting member, a plurality of key receiving devices pivotally supported in longitudinally spaced relation thereon, each of said devices being constrained to swing in a single plane, flaps formed on said member and arranged to be folded together in overlapping relation to hold said devices from pivotal movement, and means to removably secure the flaps one to the other, so that keys against said member in spaced relation, and so that said devices may be turned on their pivot when the flaps are open to throw the keys into position for convenient use.

4. A key case, comprising, .por'ting member, a pivot rod secured to said member, and a series of snap hooks mounted on said rod in longitudinally spaced relation and arranged for limited turning movements, each of said hooks adapted ,to support a key, the end portions of said member arranged to be folded in overlapping relation over said hooks and removably fastened together, all constructed and arranged so that movement of the hooks is prevented when the flaps are fastened together.

5. A key case, comprising, a flexible supporting member, a pivot rod supported thereon, a series of snap hooks, mounted on said rod in longitudinally spaced relation, said hooks adapted to receive keys and to support the latter in parallel relation to said member, the end portions of the latter being foldable in overlapping relation over comprising,

a flexible sup- /llo and means to remova- 13c bly secure said end portions in their folded able inclosing case, and a plurality of key position, all constructed and arranged so supporting devices directly pivoted to said that keys may be held in spread out relation member in longitudinally spaced relation, 10

Within said member against free movement said devices being arranged to swing through -5 therein. a limited arc and being constrained to swing 6. A key holder, comprising, a supporting in a single plane. member adapted for attachment to a fold- I WARNER R. BUXTON. 

